Ellagic Acid prevents vascular dysfunction in small mesenteric arteries of ovariectomized hypertensive rats

Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articlepeer-review

  • Fabrício Bragança da Silva
  • Walckiria Garcia Romero
  • Wender do Nascimento Rouver
  • Katiane Silva
  • Simone Alves de Almeida
  • Vinícius Mengal
  • Augusto A. Peluso
  • Patrick Wander Endlich
  • Nazaré Souza Bissoli
  • Erick Roberto Gonçalves Claudio
  • Gláucia Rodrigues de Abreu

Cardiovascular diseases rank the top causes of death worldwide, with a substantial increase in women compared to men. Such increase can beexplained by the drastic decrease in 17-β-estradiol hormone during menopause and associated with endothelium-dependent vascular dysfunction. The current treatments for cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension), are only palliative and therefore, feasible, non-invasive options for preventing further vascular damage are needed. The polyphenol ellagic acid (EA) has risen as a candidate with possible vascular protection properties. This study evaluated the effects of EA in small mesenteric arteries of ovariectomized spontaneously hypertensive rats. Our findings showed that EA oral treatment for 4 weeks preserved vasodilation endothelial-dependent in acetylcholine pre-constricted arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats to the same extent as 17-β-estradiol treatment, an effect that was abolished in the presence of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NitroG-L-Arginine Methyl Ester. Moreover, EA induced vascular nitric oxide release, by increasing both the activitation site phosphorylation and total levels of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Finally, EA decreased superoxide anion while increased total levels of the antioxidant enzymes Superoxide Dismutase 2 and catalase. We concluded that EA has vasodilation properties acting via endothelial nitric oxide synthase activation and a potential antioxidant effect by stimulating the Superoxide Dismutase 2-catalase pathway.

Original languageEnglish
Article number108995
JournalJournal of Nutritional Biochemistry
Volume105
Number of pages8
ISSN0955-2863
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 Elsevier Ltd

    Research areas

  • Elagic acid, endothelium dysfunction, menopause, oxidative stress, vascular reactivity

ID: 305184911